Coal mining apparatus



March 16, 1937.

G. DMILLER COAL MINING APPARATUS 4 ShQetls-Sheet 1 `Filed. April 5, 1934 6. 6 0 3M 7 2. 4 Z M90 am l fw 9 ma m March 16, Y1937. G, D., WLLER A 2,073,900

COAL MINING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 d @demgnvg March 16, 1937. G, D, MILLER 2,073,900r

l l COAL MINING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gmac/nm 4'5 Gwynn/magi;

March 16, 1937. @D WLLE'R v 2,073,900"

COAL MINlNG APPARATUS *Y Filed April 5, 19:54 4 seets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 106, 1937 "UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE N 3 Claims.

This invention in certain aspects is-an improvement on the structure disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 700,905, filed December 4,

One-of the primary objects is to provide novel drive mechanism thatV can be easily anchored in the walls of the mine, thus making it possible to eliminate jacks which have to be moved whenever the machine is moved, and which by reason of` the floor and roof formation are at times difficult to secure firmly in place.

Another object is to `provide means by which the feeding mechanism can be stopped and started. whenever desired without interfering with ,15 the operation of vthe cutting mechanism, this controlling means incidentally also allowing a relative play of the machine and feeding means so` as to avoid binding where the feed screw is rigidly connected to its operating means.

Another object-is to provide means by which the range of` elevation of the cutting mechanism is more extensive than with the mechanism disclosedk in the before-mentioned application.

, In then accompanying drawings:

Figure V1 is a plan View of the mining mechanisrn anda preferred embodiment of the feeding means.

Figure 2V is a detail horizontal sectional view through the carriage and gearing, and showing "30 more particularly the clutch mechanism for the feed screw.

` Figure 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2. Y Figure 4: is a vertical sectional view on the ,35 line 4--4 of Figure 3 and showing particularly the carriage' elevating mechanism. Figure 5 is a detail elevation on an enlarged scale of the feed clutch.

, Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 4o l--l` of Figure 5.

`Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view on the line lL-1 of Figure 6.

Figures and 9` are respectively cross sectional views on the lines 8-8 and 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 isa detail perspective view of the head of the feed screw.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional View on the line H-I IofFigure 3.

Figure 12,is a detail perspective view of one of the carrier guides. l Figure 13 is a top plan View of the feed head or nut.

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view.

Figures 15 and 16- are cross sectional views respectively on the lines I5-l5 and I 6-I6 of Figure 13.1

Figure 17 isa detail View of one of the anchoring pins for the feed cable.

Figure 18 is a plan View showing a slightly modifledrform of Vfeed mechanism.

Figure l9`is a sectional View on the line |9-I9 of Figure 18. v

Figure 20""is a vertical sectional View through one of the jacks or anchoring posts shown in Figures 18 and 19.

Y In the embodiment disclosed, the cutting mechanism is the same as that shown in the prior application, Serial No. 700,905, and therefore it is vbelieved unnecessary to describe it in detail. A carriage 2l is employed, from one side of Whichiprojects a battery of cutting angers 22, geared together asl illustrated at 23 (Figure 2), and operated from a master shaft 24 that projects from the rear side of the carriage, or in other words from the side opposite to that from whichthe angers 22` project.

As shown more particularly in detail in Figure's 5-9"incl'usive, the shaft 24 terminates in a threaded portion 25, on which is screwed a gudgeon` sleeve 26 that is preferably pinned to the shaft 24, as shown at 2l, and consequently rotates with it. On the outer end of this sleeve 20 is rotatably mounted a chuck inthe form of a collar 2'8' which projects beyond said sleeve and has in its projecting portion a socket 29 that is angular in cross section. The collar 28 is held against longitudinal displacement by a pin 30 that extends transversely thereof and engages in an annular groove 3l formed in the end of the sleeve 26'.

The said collar 28 constitutes one element of a clutch, and' therefore its inner end is provided with an annular set of ratchet teeth 32. Slidably mounted on the sleeve 26 and keyed thereto, as shown at 33, is a cooperating clutch element 34' whose outer end is provided with an annular set of ratchet teeth 35 that are thus movable'into and out of intertting relation with the teeth 32; The collar 304 is provided with an annular groove 36 in which is received a yoke 3l. This yoke has outstanding pivot pins 38 engaged by the lower ends of depending swinging arms 39 (see Figure 6) carried by -a rock shaft 40 journaled` in brackets 4l that are secured to the carriage. This rock shaft has at one end an upstandlnghandle crank 42. It will be obvious therefore that by swinging'the crank handle 42 in one direction, the clutch collar 34 can be moved to cause its teeth 35 to engage with the teeth 32 of the chuck collar 28, and consequently when the shaft 24 is rotated the chuck collar will also be rotated. On the other hand, when the crank handle is swung in the opposite direction the clutch elements are disengaged and consequently the chuck collar 28 will not be rotated. As clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 3 the handle crank 42 leans toward the carriage when the clutch is in operative condition and thereby tends to hold the same normally in action.

The feed screw is shown at 43 and is illustrated particularly in Figures '7 and 10. It terminates in a head 44 that is angular in cross section, so as to t in the angular socket 29, and thus be insured a turning movement when the chuck collar 28 is rotated. Its opposite faces 45 are longitudinally convexed, however, so that it can thus have a lateral play in the nature of a universal joint, and as in its feeding action it exerts a material thrust, it bears against a pin 46 that is located in the collar 26 (see Figure '7).

The feed screw 43 operates in a nut or head 4l. The specic construction of this nut or head is shown in Figures 13-16 inclusive. The nut i consists of upper and lower sections 48 with a threaded bore 49 formed partly in each to receive the feed screw 43. The sections. are hinged together at one side, as shown at 58, and are normally held together at their opposite sides by a latch. This latch consists of links I pivotally connected at 52 to the lower section, and having a pivot rod 53 connecting their upper ends. On this rod isrjournaled an eccentric 54, adapted to seat in a recess 55 formed in the top of the upper section. The eccentric has a suitable handle 56. Preferably also a pin 51, carried by one of the free sides of one section, detachably engages in a socket 58 in the other section to prevent any lateral displacement between the two sections when secured together.

The lower section is provided with a depending rearwardly opening hook 59, the mouth or space 88 within the hook being of a sufficient width to allow the entrance of one link of a l chain 6|. This chain is adapted to extend across the room being mined, and has its ends suitably anchored in the ribs or side walls A of the mine. The face in which the cutting is made is shown at B (see Figure 1). To secure the ends of this cable chain 6| there is preferably drilled in the ribs A, holes for the reception of the Shanks 62 of guide hooks 63, in which the end portions of the chains are engaged. Behind these hooks 63 is correspondingly secured anchor pins 64 having bifurcated outer ends 65 arranged also to receive between them a single link of the chain. The pins 82 and 64, it will be noted, are located in angular relation to each other. Consequently ythe strain brought upon them is such that there is a tendency for them to be drawn toward each other, rather than pulled longitudinally from the mine Wall.

It is thought that the operation of the mechanism as thus far described can now be made clear. In the drilling operation, as the augers cut into the face B of the mine, the feed screw being clutched to the drive shaft 24 that is rotated with the augers, is turned and as the nut is mounted on the cable chain the feed screw is obviously moved forwardly, thereby advancing the augers during their cutting operations. If it is desired at any time to stop the feed, it is only necessary to turn the handle crank rearwardly, thus disengaging the clutch and chuck collars, and consequently stopping the rotation of the feed screw. The feed screw moreover by reason of the ball and socket joint, while being positively rotated, is allowed lateral play in the socket and consequently any misalignment of the machine and screw due to the rough surface of the floor or canting of the machine during the drilling operations is accommodated without causing the screw to bind in the nut. It will also be noted that when a cut has been completed and it is desired to shift the machine, it is only necessary to disengage the hook 59 of the nut from the particular link of the chain cable with which it is engaged, move it to another point along the chain, and re-engage it at the proper point. Thus having anchored the chain 6| in position the entire width of the chamber or face B can be cut.

The feeding mechanism makes it possible moreover to readily locate the cutting augers at decidedly different heights. Consequently to provide for a wider range of elevation the carriage 2| is provided at its opposite sides with guideways, one of which is shown in detail in Figure 12. As there shown, each guideway consists of a plate 66 secured to the carriage and having one end overturned as shown at Bl, the other end being in the form of a rearwardly extending reduced extension 68 having a socket 69 for the reception of the usual handle 10. Secured to the outer side of the plate between its ends is another guide piece which with the overturned end portion 61 provides a vertical guideway of dovetail form. In each guide way is a vertically movable carrier plate 12 having at its lower end an outstanding axle 13 on which the supporting wheel 14 is journaled. Mounted on the top of the carriage 2| at each side of the same is a vertical post |5 that is located behind the plate '|2 and has an outstanding journal box '|6 on its upper end. In this box, is a rotatably mounted screw having a hand crank 18. Threaded on each screw is a nut 19 secured, as shown at 80, to the upper end of the adjacent carrier plate '|2. By means of this construction the plates 'i2 have a reciprocatory movement in the guideways 6'|-||, and therefore by rotating the screws the carriage can be raised and lowered within a materially great range, depending solely on the height of the post and the length of the screws Instead of securing the feed cable chain 6| by the pins and yokes 63-65, where the material of the mine is such as to permit the use of jacks, such jacks may be employed for securing the cable. Thus in Figures 18-20 inclusive, the cutting mechanism, which is here described generally by the reference numeral 8|, is the same as that above described, and includes the feed screw 82. The feed nut is shown at 83 and is the same as that already described and illustrated in Figures 13-16 inclusive. The chain in this instance has its ends secured by any suitable means, as hooks 84 to jacks or anchor posts 85 mounted in any desired positions at the opposite sides of the room of the mine. As shown more particularly in Figures 19-20, each post consists of a body member in the form of a tube 86, the lower end of which is adjustably mounted in a base tube 81 terminating in a lower spur 88 that engages in the floor of the mine. The two parts are held in adjusted relation by suitable pins 89 that are passed through any of a series of registering openings 98 formed therein. The upper end of the body tube 86 is internally threaded to receive an upwardly extending stem 9| terminating in a spur 92 that is adapted to engage in the roof of the mine. A suitable cross handle 93 provides convenient means for turning this stem.

It will be evident that the structure provides for rooms of various heightsas the device can be extended or shortened easily and to a very material degree.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit 0r sacrificing any Aof the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a coal mining machine, the combination with a carriage including a casing, a battery of rotary augers projecting from the casing, and means for rotating the augers, of two wheels on opposite sides of the carriage by which it may be moved and turned, supports movably mounted on opposite sides of the carriage and having fixed spindles on which the wheels are journaled, said supports and spindles holding the wheels against individual swinging movements on vertical axes with respect to the carriage, means for individually raising and lowering the carriage on the support for each wheel, and means for advancing the carriage, said means including a rearwardly projecting rotatable drive member having an axis of rotation fixed with respect to the carriage, and a rotary feed screw whose axis of rotation is in general alinement with the axis of the drive member but may vary therefrom, said drive member and. feed screw being provided one with an angular socket and the other with an angular head that engages in the socket and provides a driving connection between the two that allows for said misalinement.

2. In a coal mining machine, the combination with a carriage including a easing, a battery of rotary augers projecting from the casing, and means for rotating the angers, of guide members mounted on opposite sides of the casing, wheeled supports on which said guide members are slidably mounted, and directing handle bars mounted on the guide members.

3. In a coal mining machine, the combination with a carriage including a casing, a battery of rotary augers projecting from the casing, and means for rotating the augers, of guide plates mounted on opposite sides of the casing and having outstanding portions defining upright guideways between them, said plates having rearward extensions, wheeled supports slidably engaged on the guideways, means engaged with the carriage and the supports to raise and lower the carriage on said supports, `and directing handle bars mounted on the rearward extensions of the plates.

GIDEON D. MILLER. 

